GB2298133A - Footstool incorporating a massage device - Google Patents

Abstract

A footstool has a frame 1 which is used to provide support for shaped rollers 2 and 3. The soles of the feet are placed on the rollers and moved forward and backward. This action combined with the shapes of the rollers provides massage for the soles of the feet and at the same time exercises ankles, calves and thighs.

Description

FOOTSTOOL INCORPORATING A MASSAGE DEVICE This invention relates to a footstool incorporating a massage device.

A footstool is normally a piece of furniture used in the home.

Usually it is used to occasionally sit on or for supporting the feet whilst sitting in a chair. Footstools are generally made of wood with a hard, soft or woven top.

Footstoois are used to relax the feet and the purpose of this invention is to add a further use to this piece of furniture.

According to the present invention the footstool is manufactured with rotating rollers in addition to the rigid struts. The rotating rollers can be manufactured from wood, plastic or rubber in varying shapes to massage and relax the soles of the feet and at the same time provide gentle exercise for ankles, calves, knees and thighs.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which : Fi 1: shows the footstool incorporating two rotating rollers of different shapes.

Fig 2: shows one of the methods of fixing the rotating roller to the footstool's uprights.

Fig 3: shows an alternative method of supporting the rotating roller to the footstool's uprights.

Referring to the drawings, in Fig 1 the footstool 1 is shown in its basic form although it can be manufactured in many different furniture styles with hard or soft top.

The rotating rollers 2 and 3 are shown mounted above the rigid strut 4 and it should be noted that roller 2 and roller 3 are of different shapes.

M ig 2 shows the possible methods of mounting the rotating roller 5 into the stool upright 6 by insertinhe end of the roller into the upright and enabling if to rotate uy using either a metal roller bearing 7, or by a cheaper method where 7 ere becomes either a plastic or metal insert into which the rotating roller fits.

Fig 3 shows an alternative way of mounting the rollers 9 to the uprights 8.

In this case the rollers 9 have a hole running throuqh their central axis, and a metal rod 10 is passed through the hole and fixed to the uprights 8, allowing the rollers to rotate

Claims (3)

1. CLAIMS 1 A footstool incorporatinq a massage device, is manufactured with one or more rollers fitted between the footstool-s uprights.

   The intention is to allow the roller(s) to rotate freely so that one or both feet can be exercised and massaged by rotating the roller(s) to and fro with the soles of the feet.

   The rollers should be mounted low down on the uprights so that the feet can be moved to and fro easily over the rotating roller.

   For the rollers to rotate freely they are fitted into the uprights by mcans of roller bearings or a cheaper metal or plastic insert.

   An alternative method is to drill a hole horizontally through the rollers and allow them to rotate around a metal rod fixed to the uprights.

   in order to provide different kinds of massage for the soles of the feet the rollers can be manufactured in a variety of profiled shapes and surfaces.
2. 2 A footstool incorporating a massage device, as claimed in Claim i wherein with non slip pads at he base of the uprights to stop the footstool moving when the feet are massaged and exercised with a to and fro motion.
3. 3 A footstool incorporating a massage device substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1-3 of the accompanying drawings.